(Terry Lake - Hamilton, IN) - An area man has died after falling through the ice Saturday morning.

Reports indicate that just after 10 AM Saturday the Hamilton Police Department checked on an unattended portable ice fishing sled at Terry Lake in DeKalb County. After further investigation at the scene, officers concluded that an ice fisherman had fallen through the ice.

Several emergency crews responded to the scene, including the Angola Fire Department’s dive team. The Angola dive team were able to use their airboat to recover a victim, identified as Robert W. Penland, age 45 of Pleasant Lake.

Mr. Penland was pronounced dead at the scene by the DeKalb EMS.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the incident.

The Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted on scene by the Hamilton Police Department, the Hamilton Fire Department, the Steuben County Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team (SCURRT), the Steuben County Sheriff's Department, the Angola Fire Department, DeKalb County EMS, and the DeKalb County Coroner's office.

Indiana Conservation Officers advise everyone to use exptreme caution when venturing onto frozen lakes or ponds. They also strongly recommend those that do go on the ice always wear a personal flotation device.